Caught between the Creeks

A visual documentation of how the textures and colours of Deptford Creek begin to merge with the local people, structures and objects.

In September 2013 I moved onto a giant communal cargo ship named ‘Luna’ behind ‘The Bird’s Nest’ in Deptford. Initially, the space was primarily my abode, a place for sleep, food and, on occasion, warmth. However, my surroundings soon became the subject of my new documentary project. I identified my project's focus when I noticed an unusual, nevertheless common, phenomenon: as time passed the people and objects on the boat, exposed to the elements of wind and water, would often begin to mirror the textures and colours of the muddy creek and rusty cargo ship. Most poignantly, people’s possessions would often disappear into the creek on blustery days, re-appearing weeks later marked by rich mucky river flora. The objects and people who managed to stay on-board, likewise, would mirror the colours and patterns of the boat, such as the warm red blankets, shabby brown woodwork and frosty blue windows.

The project also aims to symbolically demonstrate the intimate and long-term attachment that the Deptford boating community feel towards the Creekside.